Technology is typically the first association people make with the word 'modern.' And if you want your kitchen to be technologically advanced you will focus on computer chipped appliances and computers. Today appliances use computers to set temperatures, timers, food expiration dates, and even alerts for inventory restocking. A modern kitchen may very well include a large flat screen TV to display recipes, family calendars, household schedules, and it's certainly more fun to cook while watching videos, searching websites, or listening to music.

Obviously these two approaches to designing the modern kitchen are not mutually exclusive. It is entirely possible, especially with the help of modern designers, to fuse these two approaches to the modern kitchen into a single design. Modern kitchen design is subjective. It is more about making sure that the person who uses the kitchen is happy. Good modern designers will be able to help you infuse your kitchen with modern art elements and modern technology. Of course, if you prefer to focus on a single approach (a modern art approach with classic appliances, for instance) that is quite possible.

Open floor plans - a modern kitchen design trend that has quickly gained popularity is an open floor plan. This creates a very social atmosphere, great for both entertaining and casual nights. The 'social kitchen' often features a large island, which provides space for preparing and cooking food as well as a surface for eating or simply helping the kids with homework!

Believe it or not, once upon a time, furniture was purely functional. Furniture designers did not make an effort to put any sort of artistic design into their furniture-the furniture was strictly utilitarian. Today, however, modern kitchen chairs are works of art! Some people assume that modern chairs and contemporary chairs need to be painted in certain ways and be made from specific materials. The truth is that as long as your chairs have artistic merit and can be multifunctional they can be considered contemporary chairs and modern chairs.

Most modern furniture serves more than one purpose. This is not just because the modern art movement calls for this, it is because humans are creative! Do you use your coffee table to store blankets or games? Do you use bookcases as places to display your photos and plants? You have just helped your furniture become modern furniture! To consider your chairs modern kitchen chairs, they need to pull double or triple duty: do you use them as stepstools or as small tables? You have modern chairs in your kitchen!

Stainless steel - stainless steel has prevailed as one of the top finishes in modern kitchens, and this trend probably isn't going anywhere for a while! Easy to clean, stainless steel can be used for countertops, cabinets, backsplashes and appliances (microwaves, ovens, sinks, toasters - you name it!).